Ryanair loses bitch site name-grab claim

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Ryanair has lost its claim against a website which helps customers of the airline complain about the service they receive.

The airline took its case to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Arbitration and Mediation Center which sorts out disputed internet domains. Ryanair claimed that the website - www.ryanaircampaign.org - was misleading. It went to WIPO to gain control of the website claiming that it infringed on its trademarks. It also claimed the site was set up in bad faith for: "the purpose of unfairly disrupting the business of the Complainant and causing it unfair loss and damage".

But the one man WIPO panel ruled otherwise. It said the site - which offers ways for customers to complain to Ryanair by fax, phone and email - is not acting in bad faith, nor is it causing confusion among internet users searching for the actual Ryanair website. Therefore the complaint was denied.

Ryanair previously got control of ryanair.org.uk by complaining to UK registrar Nominet. ®